Correlation between social capital and HIV risk factors for young African American males in an urban setting

Background: African Americans disproportionately represent youth with HIV. We must find creative and culturally relevant ways to reach African American youth for HIV prevention research. With increased attention to social capital and its association with health, there is a need for research on how best to integrate social capital into HIV prevention programs. Objective: To investigate whether social capital is associated with HIV risk factors for urban African American males ages 16 – 20 who participated in a pilot test of a text messaging program about HIV prevention. Methods: We completed correlational analyses of baseline survey data obtained from 60 young Black men aged 16-20 from community settings in Philadelphia PA to participate in a cell phone text messaging program promoting safer sex. Participants were assessed on their STI risk behaviors and level of social capital based on validated measures and our own findings from formative focus groups. Results: We found that social capital was positively associated both with favorable condom peer norms (perception of peers' attitudes towards condom use) and favorable condom norms (personal attitudes towards condom use). Analyses of social capital sub-domains provided both positive and negative correlations with HIV risk factors. Conclusions: These findings are compelling and provide evidence that investigation into effects of social capital on HIV and adolescent sexual risk is warranted and may lead to improved understandings of how to better integrate social capital into future STI and HIV prevention interventions.